This is a blog published by Population First as part of its communication and advocacy efforts. Through "Laadli Oh Meri Laadli" we plan to reach out to a number of people from media and other sectors. The aim is to create a platform for sharing of information, discussions and exchange of views on issues relating to gender and social development.

Monday, June 26, 2017

A Role Model and a Change Maker

Pramila of Gokulgaon
village

Pramila
Dhirde, 45, lives in Gokulgaon – a village with population of 280 people, in
Shahapur block of Thane district in Maharashtra. Most families in the village
are engaged in agriculture, cultivating rice and a few vegetables.
Pramila is educated up to 10th std., considered a high qualification
for a woman of her age in the village. She lives with her two daughters and
husband. Her husband has barely gone to school and is engaged full time in
agriculture on a small plot of land he inherited from his father. Pramila works
equally hard in their farm in addition to taking care of the household work.
The household income of around Rs. 45000 per annum is enough to cover basic
necessities including the school education of the girls.

When
PF, under it's AMCHI field project introduced vermi-composting as an income
generation activity in the village in March 2015, Pramila was one of the first
women to enroll for the activity. As the initiative was agro-allied and did not
require much
travel outside the village, Pramila was keen to try. She was eager
to get the
additional income
that it promised.

Pramila said, "Apart from the vermi-compost enterprise, I
got lot of information from sessions on ante-natal and post-natal care
which were being conducted in my village. I make good use of the
information. I share this with other women of the village. I am able to talk
to the doctors at PHC and RH very well. This has increased my confidence
further."

Pramila convinced her sister-in-law to have the
delivery done in the government hospital instead of private nursing home.
She accompanied her to the hospital alone and had her delivery done. As
soon as she notices any pregnant woman in the community or family, she
ensures that her registration is done with the ANM / Anganwadi Centre.

Pramila and her group mates were trained by the AMCHI team in
production and marketing of vermi-compost.
The group not only learned the skills quickly but also took various initiatives
to develop the enterprise.Pramila along with the group members printed a
pamphlet describing the benefits of the manure. They packed 5 kg bags of manure
for distribution as sample to farmers. With this investment the members went
around the village and met farmers and farmhouse-owners. The farmers were
appreciative of the benefits of the manure as well as the effort made by the
women.

Pramila (left) working in her vermi compost unit

Pramila and her partners did not stop at that but regularly followed up
with the farmers who had shown interest. The communication skills learnt in the
training sessions came handy to them. The group also made a tie-up with a
nearby buffalo-owner who steadily supplied them with good quality animal dung
at reasonable price. The group thus established links in the market as well as
for obtaining raw material.

The
effort paid off and the sale increased gradually. The group made a good profit
in the second year of the enterprise. Pramila got around Rs.10000 in the year
and was very happy to support her younger daughter’s higher education and elder
daughter’s marriage. Besides having the purchasing power Pramila now commands
respect of her immediate and extended family. She is respected in the community
too as she is a member of the first group of women to have a successful
business.

Going
beyond what was taught in the training sessions, the group now plans to increase
their production by increasing the number of earthworms in the pits. They are
developing clients outside Shahapur who would pick up the manure regularly.
They are targeting farm houses of Murbad taluka. They wish to sell manure under
their brand name “Sanjivani” – the life-giver. All the group members have been
able to garner the support of their husband as well to give boost to the
production and sale.

Pramila explains benefits of vermi-wash

Like
Pramila there are around 175 women across 24 groups in different villages of
Shahapur who enjoy the small financial freedom the enterprise has given them.
For the first time in their lives they are getting money for their work. They
are enjoying the mobility and enhanced social interactions too which the
enterprise brings along. Women feel confident and hopeful of achieving much
more. They wish to do something for the development of their community. They
are being role models
for so many girls and women across villages.